Automobile body and top



D 19, 1933. c. 1'. BURGMAN AUTOMOBILE BODY AND TOP 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Oct. 25, 1930 W w w kw ..N\ as N w kw Q Q m Q \m m\ M Q MN NM \NQM k \U U \U h lNVE/VT R mu m My; 5 R

c. l. BURGMAN 1,940,444

AUTOMOBILE BODY AND TOP Filed Oct. 23, 1950 4 heets-Sheet 2 Dec. 19,1933.

m r Z1 3 2 7 W a III m I I'IIIIIIIIIIII (11111111111111 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIDec. 19, 1933. c. BURGMAN AUTOMOBILE BODY AND TOP 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledOct. 23, 1930 l/v VE'N T07 Cirr/ I Jug/m? Dec. 19, 1933.

c. IQBURGMAN AUTOMOBI LE BODY AND TOP Filed Oct. '23, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 r/ flay/ 40. 1

Patented Dec. 19, 1933 4 1,940,444

UNITED STATES PATEN'll OFFICE AUTOMOBILE BODY AND TOP Carl 1. Burg man,St. Louis, Mo.

Application October 23, 1930. Serial No. 490,643

Claims. (01. 296-107) This invention relates generally toautomocharacters to the drawings, which illustrate a mobiles and, moreparticularly, to a certain new preferred embodiment of my invention, thechasand useful improvement in automobile-bodies sis or frame A may be ofany standard or special and tops. form and dimensions, supported onwhich is 5 My invention has for its chief object the prothe floor 1 ofthe body B. Suitably fixed to, and c0 vision of an automobile-bodyequipped and conupstanding from, the floor 1 in spaced relation structedwith a shiftable top that may not only longitudinally, and extendingbetween the side be selectively actuated to raised operative or walls 2,of the body B, are walls 3 and 4 defin-, body-covering position or tolowered inoperative ing, as it may be said, the front seat or driversposition, but which also, when in such latter compartment b, locatedwithin which is a suit 65 position, is partly concealed from view andpartable seat 5, the steering-pedestal 6 and wheel 7, 1y serviceable incompleting the finish of the the instrument or dash-board 8, and thelike: i t i r of th body, and suitably fixed to, and upstandingobliquely My invention has for a further object the proand rearwardlyon, the body B, as is customary,

vision of an automobile-body and top of the is a wind-shield-frame 9provided, as is usual, 70

type stated in which the top may be readily, for vision with a glass orother transparent seceasily, and conveniently shifted to occupy eithertion or sections 10. its operative or inoperating positions, which may ip s d l t d y e dy B dja t be economically manufactured and produced,its opposite side walls 2, and at their front marand which is efficientin the performance of its gin engaging the rear face of wall 4, are up-75 i t d d functions, standing walls 11, 11, and extending transverselyAnd with the above and other objects in view, of body B and engaging therear margin of the my invention resides in 'the novel features ofwalls'll, is a wall 12 having preferably the shape form, construction,arrangement, and combinaor contour in vertical section best seen inFigtion of parts hereinafter described and pointed ,ures l and e Wal 11a e Of Such ength 80 t in th l i relatively to the length of the body Bas to de- In the accompanying drawings, four sheets,-- 'fine, inassociation with the cross or transverse Figure 1 is a fragmentallongitudinally secwalls 4, 12, a compartment or chamber 9 distional viewof an automobile-body equipped with posed approximately in or adjacentthe longitua shiftable top in accordance with and embodydinal center ofthe body B, for purposes present- 86 ing my invention, the top beingshown in its 1y appearing, such compartment being closed at operative orraised position: its top by a horizontal wall or lid 13.

Figure 2 is a similar view, with the top in Disposed in spaced relationrearwardly'of, and inoperative or lowered position: extendingtransversely of the body B in approxi- Figure 3 is a vertical sectionalview of the body mate parallelism with, the wall 12, is an upstand- 90taken approximately on the line 3-3, Figure 1: ing wall 14, which, inassociation with the body Figure 4 is a fragmental plan view of the topside walls 2 and said cross wall 12, define a third or cover when inraised operative position: compartment or chamber d, also for purposesFigure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view presently appearing. Asbest seen in Figures 1 40 taken approximately on the line 55, Figure 4;and 2, the chamber d is open at its top, and at 95 Figure 6 is a similarview taken approximately its bottom the floor 1 may be cut away orotheri on the line 6-6, Figure 5: wise formed to provide an opening, asat d, for Figure 7 is a similar view taken approximately facilitatingoccupancy of such compartment by on the line 77, Figure 4: a portion ofthe top when in lowered position, as

' Figure 8 is a similar view taken approximately presently fullyappearing. 100 on the line 88, Figure 7: Rearwardly of the chamber d,the body B is Figure 9 is a similar view taken approximately suitablyprovided with a fourth compartment e, on the line 9-9, Figure 8:preferably suitably upholstered, as at 15, and

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmental view of equipped with a foldablerumble seat 16 and the cover or top and body, showing the retainclosure17 of approximately standard type and 105,

ing means for releasably securing the top in structure.

lowered inoperative position; and C designates the top, which includes arela- Figure 11 is a sectional View taken approxitively flat forwardframe 0 and an arcuate rear mately on the line 11-l1, Figure 10. frame asuitably endwise jointed for articula- Referring now more in detail andby reference tion, as at 18, and both covered as is common in partmentwall 13 automobile tops, with any suitable preferably rubberized'fabricor the like 1-9, the covering 19 of the frame 0' being suitably cutaway, as at 20, to provide a rear sight-opening preferably closed orcovered by a section 21 of glass or other transparent material. Thearcuate or rear top portion also includes suitable preferably rigid sidewalls 22--22, each of which is fixed in any suitable manner to the frame0', and each of which is also provided with a preferably suitablycovered sight-opening, as at 23.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, the compartment top-wall 13 projectshorizontally in a plane somewhat below the plane of the upper margin ofthe wall 4 and the attached back of the seat 5, and the top frames 0 andc and the top side walls 22 are of such relative dimensions that, whenthe top C is in raised operative position, as shown in Figure 1, thetop-frame c is adapted to rest at its forward margin on the upper marginof the fixed wind-shield frame 9 and that the top side walls 22 extendat their lower margin for the most part in approximately the plane ofsaid wall 13 and rest at their lower forward corners on the top of thewall 4 and of the seatback 5, said side walls 22 being suitablyrabbeted, as at 24, for the purpose. It is also to be noted that the topC is somewhat reduced in width relatively to the over-all width of thebody B, so as to neatly fit between the body side walls 2 when inlowered inoperative position, and that the top side walls 22 are sorelatively located as to largely fit, also when the top C is in loweredinoperative position, in the communicating compartments ,f, I,- providedat the opposite sides of the body B intermediate its side walls 2 andthe compartment walls 11, best seen in Figure 3.

Extending transversely of the body B and mounted for rotation insuitable bearings 25 arranged on the walls 4 and 11, is a shaft 26,fixed on which is a suitable pinion or gear 27, adapted for meshingengagement with a worm-shaft 28 extending vertically of, and mounted forrotation in suitable bearings 29 fixed on, the wall 4, as best seen inFigures 1, 2, and 3, the shaft 28 being provided at its upper end withan actuat for convenient manual engagement in an opening 31 provided forthe purpose in the compartment top wall 13, and suitably fixed to thetop side walls 22 and also suitably fixed on the crossshaft 26, arebrackets 32.

Hence, in use and operation, assuming the top C to be in raisedoperative position, as illustrated in Figure 1, and its forward frame 0to be disconnected, as presently appearing from the frame 9, on suitableactuation of the worm 28 by means of its attached manipulating member30, the top C will be shifted rearwardly, whereupon the arcuate frame c'and its attached side walls 22 will pivotally disappear into, and thenbe concealed in, the communicating compartments d and I, and the forwardtop-frame c will then neatly and snugb fit, in body finishing positionbetween the body side walls 2 and over said comand overlap at itsforward margin on the top of the seat-back 5, all as best seen in Figure2, suitable coil-springs 33 attached at their opposite ends to thepivoted brackets 32 and to the fixed wall 4 being adapted to yieldinglyretard and balance such disappearing movement of the described portionof the top C.

On its rear face and in its forward margin, the forward top frame 0 isrecessed, as at 34, to accommodate a short shaft 35, on which is mountedfor rotation a suitable roller 36; and co-operatively, adjacent itsupper margin, the seat-back 5 is suitably recessed and chambered, as at37, in which a short shaft 38 is suitably Journaled for rotation, all asbest seen in Figures 10 and 11. Fixed upon the forward end of shaft 38,is a manipulating member 39, and fixed on the shaft 38 adjacent its rearend is a hook or latch-member 40 adapted for engagement with the roller36, on proper manual manipulation of the member 39, when the top C is inits said lowered position with its frame 0 in overlapping relation uponthe upper margin of the seat-back 5, for releasably securing the top Cin such position. However, the top manipulating member is covered andconcealed when the top C is in such lowered position, as shown in Figure2, and the hook-member is hence provided or formed with a cam-extension40* adapted, on continued release actuation of the manipulating member39, for cam-wise engagement with the roller 36, following disengagementtherewith of the hook-member 40, for elevating the top-frame csufiiciently to permit convenient manual engagement with themanipulating member 30 for suitably actuating the same for again raisingthe top C to fully open operative position or into the position thereofas illustrated in Figure 1.

The forward top-frame c is also at spaced points along, and upon theunder face of, its forward margin, recessed or cut-away, as at 41, toaccommodate studs or pins 42 upstanding from the fixed wind-shield-frame9, as best seen in Figure 7, and for the engagement with such studs 42of hook-members 43 for releasably securing the top C in its describedraised operative position, the hook-members 43 being suitably-pivotedintermediate their end, as at 44, upon the top-frame c for convenientoperative engagement and manipulation by the car-occupant through anopening, as at 45, provided for the purpose in the under portion of thetopfabric 19. And also suitably pivoted upon the .top-frame c forswinging movement, as at 46, ing hand-wheel, crank, or the like 30disposed as best seen in Figures '7 and 8, are latches 47 adapted fordetachable engagement with the respective hook-members 43 for retainingthe same in top-securing engagement with the studs 42, the latches orarms 47 being readily swingably elevated out of engaging relation withthe studs 42 when it is again desired to shift the top C to loweredinoperative position.

And at their joint 18, the top-frames c, c, are formed with opposedrabbeted extensions 48, 49, adapted to freely overlap when the top C israised, as best seen in Figure 5, the rear or under extension 49 beingsuitably recessed, as

at 50, for accommodating spring-jaw members 51 adapted, when the top Cis raised, for engagement with suitable co-operative members 52 fixedto, and projecting from, the forward or upper extension 48 foryieldingly retaining the top-frame c and c hingedly in relatively openor raised position.

To prevent the entrance of rain, dust, or the like into the body B atthe joint 18 between the top-frames c and 0' when the top C is raised,the top-frame c is preferably provided with a further rearward extension53 adapted to impinge edgewise upon suitable cushioning material 54disposed for the purpose in a recess or pocket 55 provided, as best seenin Figure 5, in the forward margin of the top-frame c.

Likewise the top-frame c at its rear margin is suitably formed with alip 56 adapted to impinge a co-operating lip 5'7 suitably provided onthe body B at or adjacent the upper margin of the compartment-wall 14 tocompletely close the upper end of the compartment d when the top C israised, as best seen in Figure 1.

Preferably, as shown, thecompartment d may be suitably lined, as at 58,and the several bodywalls may be attractively covered with or by anysuitable material, and 'it is also to be understood that variousmodifications or changes in the several parts of the body and top may bemade and substituted for those herein shown and described withoutdeparting from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. The combination with an automobile body, of spaced upstandingcompartment-forming walls fixed within the body, a horizontally disposedwall fixed within the body adjacent the upstanding walls, and a toppivotally attached to the body for shiftable movement into raised orlowered position relatively to the body, the top including front andrear hingedly connected frames, the rear frame being adapted todisappear within said compartment and the front frame beingadapteditorest on said horizontal wall when the top is shifted intolowered position.

2. In combination, an automobile body having a seat, an open upper endchamber spaced rearwardly from the seat, and a horizontally disposedsupport intermediate the seat and chamber, a top including a first framecomprising rigid side walls and an arcuate top wall pivotally attachedat its side walls to the body, a second approximately flat top frame,and means hingedly connecting the second frame at its rear end to theforward end of the arcuate top wall of the first frame, and means forpivotally shifting the top for raising or lowering said framesrelatively to the body, the first frame being concealed within thechamber of the body and ,the second frame being disposed fiatwise on thesupport when the top is in lowered position.

3. In combination, an automobile body having a seat and a chamber spacedrearwardly from the seat, a top including a first frame comprising rigidside walls and an arcuate top wall pivotally attached at its side wallsto the body, a second approximately fiat top frame, and means hingedlyconnecting the second frame at its rear end to the forward end of thearcuate top wall of the first frame, means for pivotally shifting thetop for raising or lowering said frames relatively to the body, thefirst frame being concealed within the chamber of the body and thesecond frame being forwardly projected over the space intermediate saidseat and chamber with its forward end disposed adjacent the seat whenthe top is in lowered position, and co-operating members on the seat andthe forward end of the second frame for releasably securing the top insaid lowered position.

4. In combination, an automobile body having a seat, an open upper endchamber spaced rearwardly from the seat, and a horizontally disposedsupport intermediate the seat and chamber, a fixed upstanding support onthe body, a top including a first frame comprising rigid side walls andan arcuate top wall pivotally attached at its side walls to the body,

a second approximately fiat top frame, and means hingedly connecting thesecond frame at its rear end to the forward end of the arcuate top wallof the first frame, means for pivotally shifting the top for raising orlowering said frames relatively to the body, thefirst frame being withinthe chamber of the body and the second frame being disposed fiatwise onsaid .a top including a first frame comprising rigid side walls and anarcuate top wall pivotally attached at its side walls to the body, asec- 0nd approximately fiat top frame, and means hingedly connecting thesecond frame at its rear end to the forward end of the arcuate top wallof the first frame, means for pivotally shifting the top for raising orlowering said frames relatively to the body, the first frame beingconcealed within the chamber of the body and the second frame beingdisposed fiatwise on said horizontal support when the top is in loweredposition and said frames being disposed over the seat with the secondframe resting at the forward end on said upstanding support when the topis in raised position, and means for detachably securing the top at theforward end of the second frame to said support when the

